valve
I agree about the Delta 1700, but have never seen one, including mine, that went much more than 5 years without needing a new core. Price Pfister is the least maintenance prone, and until recently was the only one not infested with breakable plastic parts, or handles that bonded themselve to the faucet. In other words, the "best" faucet is whatever you, or the plumber, are comfortable with and have had a good experience with its reliability.